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Player News - Thursday, March 8th, 2018

Alec Peters scored a career-high eight points with two rebounds and two 3-pointers in 10 minutes against the Thunder on Thursday.

It was garbage time, but it was somewhat noteworthy he logged minutes next to the other non-Tyson Chandler starters for the third quarter (Payton, Booker, Reed, Bender). Just keep an eye on Peters, especially with Alex Len falling off a cliff again.

Elfrid Payton made 3-of-13 from the field for six points with five rebounds, six assists and two steals in 30 minutes against the Thunder on Thursday.

And he's cold as a scorer again. Over his last four, Payton made just 32.7 percent from the field with averages of 11.0 points, 7.5 boards, 7.5 assists, 1.3 steals, 1.0 blocks and no treys. He's still doing plenty besides the poor shooting and he's making free throws, so his fantasy owners shouldn't worry. He may have to score more with the wing injuries, too.

Troy Daniels made 2-of-15 from the field for six points with six rebounds, one assist, two steals, one block and two 3-pointers in 30 minutes.

The Suns slid Devin Booker to small forward a ton today, which opened up the minutes for Daniels. If both Josh Jackson (knee) and T.J. Warren (back) are out for Saturday, Daniels is probably going to have what his former coach David Fizdale called as a "money green" light. He's only a speculative add for now, but he's on the radar for DFS or as specialist. He won't have value if Jackson or Warren are a go, though.

Al Horford busted out his mini-slump by tallying 20 points, eight rebounds, six assists and a block in Boston's 117-109 victory over the Wolves.

Horford was 8-of-14 from the floor, including 1-of-4 from downtown, and 3-of-3 from the free-throw stripe. In the Celtics first six games following the All-Star break, Horford averaged just 8.2 points, 5.8 rebounds and 2.8 assists, while converting only 38.0 percent of his field goal attempts. Thus, Thursday's performance was greeted with a welcomed sigh of relief from Horford owners.

Andrew Wiggins shot just 6-of-21 from the field on his way to 13 points, seven rebounds, four assists, two steals and four turnovers in 38 minutes.

According to Basketball-Reference, it's the first time a Timberwolves player has scored fewer than 14 points despite attempting more than 20 shots since February of 2000. However, coming into Thursday, Wiggins had scored 20-plus points in five straight games and had shot 50 percent or better in four of those five contests.

First off, props to the Suns for this fast report on an MRI. More importantly, it's only being called left knee irritation and he's only day-to-day. The Suns still may choose to be careful with their rookie, but fantasy owners may still want to hold him in just about all leagues. Davon Reed and Troy Daniels would only be very deep speculative adds.

Jeff Teague tallied 13 points, five rebounds, eight assists, three 3-pointers, one steal and zero turnovers across 31 minutes in a loss to Boston on Thursday night.

Teague has been terrific since the All-Star break. Over the Wolves past five games, he is averaging 19.2 points, 5.0 rebounds, 5.8 assists, 2.0 treys, 2.0 steals and just 2.2 turnovers. He will look to stay hot in a matchup with the Warriors on Sunday afternoon in a nationally televised game.

He went through some functionality tests to check on his ankle, but the team apparently didn't feel like they needed him to get back out there. Curry wasn't limping too bad when he went to the locker room and the team did call it a "tweak" in this recent update. While it wasn't bad, we're still fully expecting him to sit out against the Blazers on Friday night. That'll likely get Quinn Cook called up while the others step up.

Taj Gibson scored 18 points on 8-of-10 shooting and grabbed four rebounds in the Wolves loss to the Celtics on Thursday night.

Gibson had just one assist and didn't register a steal or block. Gibson continues to score efficiently (he's shooting 62.4 percent from the floor over his last ten contests), but has five or fewer rebounds in four straight games.

Coach Jay Triano said Josh Jackson (knee) will get an MRI on his left knee.

According to the coach, Jackson felt something in his knee when he bent down in a stance, but the coach didn't know much more besides that. The Suns are running out of small forwards, so it'll likely be Troy Daniels and Davon Reed getting some run until Jackson and Warren are back.

Fortunately, coach Brad Stevens said that Jaylen Brown (concussion) felt "pretty good" after being forced to exit Thursday night's game following a scary fall.

Brown went up for a dunk in the third quarter, but his hands slipped off the rim and he fell backward onto his head. It was a frightening fall, with the arena growing grimly silent and doctors rushing to Brown's side. Fortunately, it appears Brown avoided a serious injury to his neck or back. However, he is going to be tested for a concussion. Here is the full quote from coach Stevens: "[Brown] felt pretty good leaving the arena. He went to get a CT scan. He's with [Minnesota's] team doctor, so he's in good hands." We should have further updates on Friday morning.

Goran Dragic made 3-of-13 from the field for seven points with five rebounds, seven assists, three steals and one 3-pointer in 34 minutes during a 108-99 win over the 76ers on Thursday.

His 13 attempts from the field matched a team high and he didn't turn the ball over either. Dragic's playing time and usage should still be totally fine with so much depth around him, and his ability to play off the ball should keep him out there in the clutch. He should flirt with top-50 value the rest of the way.

It was a huge win for the Heat with a 35-point fourth to help them take sole possession of the No. 7 spot in the playoff hunt. Wade had his fingerprints all over it with a game-sealing, alley-oop dunk with 51 seconds left, which certainly impressed his coach. "He's filling his cup from the fountain of youth," coach Erik Spoelstra said. Wade has been playing his best ball of the year over his last five, averaging 17.2 points, 3.8 boards, 2.8 assists and 0.6steals. He still doesn't have much upside, but feel free to keep firing him up in most leagues.

Ferguson was able to walk back to the locker room under his own power but was clearly disoriented. Now that he's under the concussion protocol, it's unlikely he will be cleared to play Saturday vs. San Antonio. Considering he's not a significant part of the Thunder's rotation even when fully healthy, he belongs on waivers in all fantasy formats.

Kelly Olynyk scored 10 points with seven rebounds, two assists, one steal, one block and one 3-pointer in 24 minutes against the 76ers on Thursday.

He's still been able to see minutes even when Hassan Whiteside had it going. That's three useful games over his last four, averaging 11.3 points, 6.3 boards, 4.8 assists, 1.3 steals and 1.8 treys in those four. That'll definitely work in most formats, so Olynyk is a fine pickup if you're looking for a non-traditional center.

Karl-Anthony Towns tallied 15 points, 11 rebounds, three assists and one block in Thursday's loss to the Celtics.

The Wolves hadn't played since last Friday, allowing them a very rare six-day break in between contests. However, they looked more rusty than rested on Thursday, as the Celtics jumped out to a 20-point lead in the first half. Towns, the NBA's league-leader in double-doubles, was scorching hot in February and is fully expected to close out the season in dominant fashion.

Hassan Whiteside scored 26 points with eight rebounds, two assists, one steal and two blocks in 29 minutes during a win over the 76ers on Thursday.

He wins his second battle in a row with Joel Embiid, and he was clearly pumped on his post-game interview on Heat TV. "I love it. I love it. I love it. Let's keep it going. I love it," he said about the win. Whiteside's minutes were down coming into this game, and he's still going to have to deal with coach Erik Spoelstra sitting him in some fourth quarters. That said, the stats are still there for him overall, so there's nothing to worry about from a fantasy perspective.

Tyler Johnson scored 12 points with four rebounds, one assist and two 3-pointers in 25 minutes in a start against the 76ers on Thursday.

He will probably be sticking in the starting lineup, but there are a ton of guys that could take minutes from him. Johnson's usage rate should also be in the teens while he's not going to add much else on offense besides some streaky scoring. He has late-round upside, so he's still an OK hold in 12-team leagues.

Nemanja Bjelica scored a career-high 30 points on 11-of-16 shooting and added 12 rebounds, two assists and six treys across 40 minutes in Thursday's loss to the Celtics.

Bjelica was on fire all evening, almost singlehandedly keeping the Wolves within striking distance of the Celtics. Bjelica was inserted into the starting lineup in place fo Jimmy Butler back in late February and averaged 10.0 points, 7.8 rebounds and 2.0 assists in 36.5 minutes over the first four games after Butler injured his knee. However, this was Belly's breakout performance. He's logged at least 33 minutes in each start, which gives him a relatively high fantasy floor going forward. He will be a hot pickup this week.

Justise Winslow played 27 minutes against the 76ers on Thursday, scoring nine points with six rebounds, two assists, one steal, two blocks and three 3-pointers.

Coach Erik Spoelstra trusted Winslow late in this game and put him on Ben Simmons a bunch. He also had a slow start with some sloppy play, so getting minutes in the upper 20s is a great sign for him. He'll certainly be falling off from his hot stretch he had while Wayne Ellington was out, but maybe Winslow can still hold value in deeper leagues. Although, his fantasy owners shouldn't be clinging too tightly, but maybe just hold him until he cools off.

James Johnson scored four points with two rebounds, six assists, three steals and two blocks in 21 minutes against the 76ers on Thursday.

He had to guard Ben Simmons for much of his time out there, but he did lose minutes to Kelly Olynyk again. Johnson is going to have some ups and downs as he likely hangs around just 20 minutes per game, so he'll be annoying to own.

Josh Richardson scored 13 points with four rebounds, two assists, one steal, one block and three 3-pointers in 22 minutes against the 76ers on Thursday.

The second unit had it working today, so Richardson's minutes did take a small hit. That said, he's been awesome all season, he was out there on some key late defensive possessions, and it's not like this stat line was bad anyway. He leads the team in minutes, he hasn't missed a game and he continues to put up early-round value for the last three months.

Coach Erik Spoesltra talked about him before the game and how he's worked back from injury, but the Heat just don't need him now that they have some solid depth. He'll likely be in the rotation at some point, but the fantasy upside isn't there.

Wayne Ellington returned on Thursday against the 76ers with nine points, three rebounds, two assists and three 3-pointers in 22 minutes.

He got some late minutes with his shot looking good, and coach Erik Spoelstra leaned on his bench a lot to seal this game. Ellington's volume isn't going to be nearly as high as it was before the break with Dwyane Wade in the mix and the Heat having their depth back. He's not really an add.

Joel Embiid scored 17 points with seven rebounds, three assists and three 3-pointers during a 108-99 loss to the Heat on Thursday.

He was settling for jumpers and made just 5-of-18 from the field. Embiid has been somewhat cold as a shooter lately, but it hasn't affected his usage at all at any point this year. Breaking his game log down by sets of 10 this season, he's been at a 32.7 usage rate in each while he's never been above 34.4 in those sets (games 1-10, 11-20, etc.). He's been surprisingly reliable this year. Trust it.

Malik Monk finished with 13 points, three rebounds, five assists, one blocks and two turnovers in 21 minutes on Thursday night.

Monk shot 6-of-14 from the field, including just 1-of-6 from downtown. Nonetheless, it qualifies as his best game in quite some time. It is only the second time this season he has dished out more than four dimes. It's also the first time he has scored in double-figures since early November. Coach Steve Clifford said that Monk would see additional minutes with Michael Carter-Williams (left shoulder sprain) sidelined. We'll see if Monk can somehow salvage his rookie season by finishing strong over the final month.

Ben Simmons scored 10 points with eight rebounds, eight assists, three steals and two blocks in 35 minutes on Thursday.

The Heat get a lot of credit for keeping him contained and not dunking it so much like he has recently. His shot selection has been great lately and he hasn't slowed down too much after his career-high 32 points back on Feb. 22. Since the break, he's been filling it up across the board with averages of 16.4 points, 7.0 boards, 9.2 dimes, 1.0 blocks and 0.9 steals on 61.8 FG%. His free throw totals are also way down recently, so that's another positive.

Dario Saric scored 20 points with 10 rebounds, four assists and four 3-pointers in 31 minutes against the Heat on Thursday.

He probably isn't getting enough credit for one of the best shooting seasons in the NBA. Over his 15 previous games, Saric sports an elite 63.5 TS% on his 21.1 usage rate to help him to a +9.1 net rating. If you're wondering why the 76ers aren't missing Markelle Fultz at all, look no further than Saric after he probably should've won Rookie of the Year last season.

Nicolas Batum was disappointingly unproductive in a loss to the Nets on Thursday, finishing with just six points, four rebounds, two assists, one steal and two turnovers in a team-high 33 minutes.

Batum had been posting solid all-around numbers prior to this contest. He came into Thursday night averaging 10.6 points, 7.0 rebounds, 9.6 assists, 1.4 steals and 1.4 3-pointers over his last five games. We'll chalk this up as a rare off night. Batum will look to get back on track Saturday vs. Phoenix.

Marco Belinelli scored 14 points with one assist and three 3-pointers in 30 minutes against the Heat on Thursday.

He did take a few down-the-stretch minutes from Robert Covington and Belinelli has found himself 25 minutes per game over his last five. In that span, he averaged 10.6 points, 1.6 boards, 1.0 assists and 1.4 treys on 43.2 percent from the field. He's an OK low-end asset in deep leagues.

Howard was 5-of-8 from the floor and was surprisingly efficient from the charity stripe as well, knocking down 9-of-11 from the line. Howard's scoring has been solid, but his rebound numbers have dipped of late. He's averaging just 6.4 boards over his last five contests. The Hornets next game is Saturday vs. the Suns.

Robert Covington missed all 10 from the field and made 3-of-4 from the line for three points with seven rebounds, three assists, one block, four steals and no turnovers in 29 minutes against the Heat on Thursday.

He blew up on Tuesday with 22 points and he was at 48.7 percent fro the field in his previous March games, but perhaps no player is more prone to these mega shooting duds than Lord Covington. Still, he's just too good in the other areas on the stat sheet and coach Brett Brown will play him through even the most brutal of slumps, so keep him locked in for all formats.

Kemba Walker finished with 21 points, six assists, two steals, three 3-pointers and three turnovers on Thursday in a loss to the Nets.

Walker was just 1-of-9 from the floor on Tuesday, but was super efficient on Thursday night. He shot 7-of-11 from the floor, including a perfect 3-of-3 from deep, and also knocked down all four of his free-throws. Walker has been scoring hot prior to Tuesday's dud, and was able to get back on track in this one.

Spencer Dinwiddie scored six points and dished out a game-high 10 assists in 23 minutes before fouling out of Thursday's win over the Hornets.

Dinwiddie didn't grab a single rebound but did have one steal and a block. He has seen his scoring totals drop of late as he tries to find his rhythm playing alongside D'Angelo Russell. However, Dinwiddie has still been racking up the dimes. He's averaging 8.4 assists over his last five.

Jaylen Brown went to the locker room in the third quarter after a scary fall on Thursday.

He tried to hang on the rim and he slipped off, causing his body to land awkwardly to put a lot of force on his head and neck. He looked dazed just after the fall, but it took a long time to get him off the floor. Brown was able to walk off under his own power and he waved to the crowd on his way out. Hopefully, he's not going to miss time. If he does, we'll see more Terry Rozier, Marcus Smart and Marcus Morris.

DeMarre Carroll finished with 15 points, five rebounds, three assists, two treys, three steals and a block in Thursday's win over Charlotte.

Carroll seems to fly under the radar, but he's been a very productive fantasy contributor. He's tallied at least 15 points and five boards in six straight games. Over Brooklyn's last 12 contests, Carroll is averaging 16.3 points, 7.4 rebounds, 2.9 assists and 3.0 made 3-pointers. He ranks inside the top-50 overall in nine-category fantasy leagues over the last month.

Caris LeVert tallied 22 points, four rebounds, eight assists, one steal and two turnovers in 30 minutes off the bench vs. the Hornets on Thursday.

LeVert was 8-of-15 from the floor and he nailed all five of his free throws. He has now scored in double-figures in four of the Nets last five contests. LeVert is averaging 16.6 points, 3.6 rebounds, 3.8 assists and 1.2 steals over this current five-game stretch. His fantasy stock is on the rise, and he could be a popular add down the stretch.

Rondae Hollis-Jefferson turned in a gem during his 30 minutes against the Hornets on Thursday, scoring 18 points with 12 rebounds, four assists, one steal and two blocks in 30 minutes.

Before the game, coach Kenny Atkinson talked about getting RHJ more involved with more run, so the stat line doesn't disappoint at all. Hollis-Jefferson was running the offense more and his switching on defense was top notch. He's been frustrating to own for about a month, but he had a strong line on Sunday and this line should move the needle on him as a pickup in all standard leagues.

Jarrett Allen scored 13 points with seven rebounds, one assist and one block in 21 minutes against the Hornets on Thursday.

The Nets continue to use him as a high screener to set up their offense on the vast majority of possessions. Allen also used his body well on defense throughout this game and handled Dwight Howard better than expected despite how the Hornets fed him a bunch, so it looked like he was headed for more minutes until it got to garbage time. Allen is going to struggle against teams like the Warriors, but he's still too solid as a fantasy asset for his owners to worry too much. He's been a sixth-round player over his last 19 games, so keep plugging him in there.

Allen Crabbe scored a game-high 29 points and knocked down six 3-pointers in the Nets win over the Hornets on Thursday night.

Crabbe played well to close out February but was just 5-of-21 from the floor over the Nets previous two games. He snapped out of the mini-slump on Thursday, when he shot 11-of-21 from the floor, including 6-of-11 from downtown. He also added eight rebounds, one assist, a steal and a block in 33 minutes. The 29 points are the second-highest total of his career. Crabbe has now made a team-high 159 3-pointers this season.

Josh Jackson suffered a left knee injury on Thursday night and will not return.

That's not good and the Suns are now down to Davon Reed to start the third quarter. T.J. Warren (back) is out tonight and Jackson was looking at a huge opportunity, but it's certainly possible he misses time with this injury. The Suns are in the mix for the No. 1 spot in the lottery, and they won't be rushing him back. There could be a pickup to make in deep leagues but we haven't seen enough out of guys like Reed to sign off on him as an add in shallower leagues.

The Magic also confirmed that Augustin did suffer the injury on Wednesday, and it's not a lingering issue. He did return to the game on the last possession, so there was not much doubt on the severity. If for some reason he can't go, that means plenty of Shelvin Mack with more Aaron Gordon and Mario Hezonja running the offense.

"That would be really disappointing to end my season like that," Fournier said about his MCL sprain he suffered on Wednesday. It's almost always discouraging when a player is talking about hopes to play later this season, especially when the Magic have high lottery position. If you need games right now, he's a drop candidate. Meanwhile, Jonathan Isaac, Jonathon Simmons and Mario Hezonja will be stepping up with more fantasy value headed their way.

Bell sprained his right ankle Tuesday night when he landed on the foot of Rondae Hollis-Jefferson in the Warriors win over the Nets. He had already been ruled out of Thursday's game vs. the Spurs. Coach Steve Kerr said that Bell would also sit out this weekend's contests as well (Golden State plays Friday and Sunday). JaVale McGee and Kevon Looney should see an uptick in minutes with Bell sidelined.

This is good news after the Kings have been ruling him out early since last week. Cauley-Stein has had back problems before and the Kings have little incentive to play him now. If he's back, that means either Kosta Koufos and/or Zach Randolph would be much more likely to sit.

He had some stiffness in his back on Wednesday in the first quarter, and he was ruled out about a minute after he went to the locker room. It's still tough to trust how a player was listed on the injury report the day before, but we'll have a better idea at shootaround tomorrow. If he's out, Frank Mason III would be looking at his biggest opportunity is almost two months.

Clint Capela (sore right calf) is probable to face the Raptors on Friday.

He had a bruised left calf back in December, so this is a new injury for Capela. He had one of his worst games last year, so maybe this soreness is why. Either way, he should still be out there and has to be in all lineups. He may carry some risk in DFS, though.

No surprises here after Irving said he would play yesterday. He was expected to have two meetings with the training staff in the last 24 hours, and coach Brad Stevens didn't totally commit to him playing 90 minutes before tip. All this stuff said, Irving should be good to go and there's no talk of him having a minutes limit.

"Throughout this whole week when I was getting up and down, I didn't feel any pain," Collison said. "It was about getting up and down and getting back into shape and just playing basketball." He is questionable for Friday, but there's a very good chance he comes off the bench. Make sure he's not sitting on your waiver wire.

He's back after a really strong Tuesday over 38 minutes. Johnson should be looking at around 27-30 minutes, but coach Erik Spoelstra may roll with more of a hot-hand approach. He's still worth owning in most leagues.

He continues to find minutes even when T.J. Warren (back) was healthy, but now he should be locked in for 34-40 minutes most nights. Jackson should be owned in every fantasy leagues because the Suns likely won't be rushing Warren back. He's also played some center, so guys like Marquese Chriss, Alex Len and Dragan Bender benefit. They probably need to play better to be added, though.

That's not good with the Suns falling to No. 2 in the lottery. Warren has been a slower healer than most, and he's been playing huge minutes with 42 in three of his last four active games. Josh Jackson's fantasy owners hit the jackpot here while other rotation players benefit because Jackson has played some PF and C.

Huestis has started ten games this season for OKC this season, but is averaging just 3.3 points, 3.8 rebounds and 0.4 assists in 20.8 minutes over those ten starts. He belongs on waivers in all fantasy formats.

OKC has a lot of options to play next to their four studs, but Brewer looks like the top choice after his 23 minutes on Tuesday. He's still not going to get enough shots most nights and probably won't have value unless he's racking up steals or open treys. Leave him on the wire.

Miami has some options in the second unit and Justise Winslow is playing the best he has all season. Ellington should still get minutes, but coach Erik Spoelstra has a lot of options to fill out his rotation 6-10. Ellington probably isn't an add in most leagues.

He suffered the injury on Wednesday and did not return. The severity of the injury isn't known, and it's possible he's only day-to-day. Although, the Magic sit in the No. 4 spot in the lottery and chances are they'll be bringing back Fournier slowly. Fantasy owners can consider dropping him in certain situations, assuming they don't need him for the next week or so and don't have an IR spot. With him out, it'll be Jonathon Simmons, Mario Hezonja and Jonathan Isaac seeing more run and are all worth a look depending on what you need. Wes Iwundu could be getting more minutes, but he's not a fantasy option.

He hasn't played in the last two games with the Grizzlies calling him probable for Monday and questionable for Wednesday up until warmups. If he's out again, JaMychal Green would be busy with more Ivan Rabb, Myke Henry and Ben McLemore getting more run.

He's been out since the first game since the break and the Grizzlies continue to rule him out early. Clearly, they're not in a rush to bring him back with their 15-game losing streak helping them rise to the top lottery spot. It'll be Kobi Simmons likely getting another start next to Ben McLemore with Xavier Rathan-Mayes and Wayne Selden also getting some extra run. All of those guys could be worth using in fantasy with a back-to-back set coming up.

He was out for Wednesday for personal reasons, but now he's out for rest. The Grizzlies are on a back-to-back set, so presumably Parsons is going to play on Saturday against the Mavs. If not, they might be hearing from the NBA.

The MRI was negative for any ligament damage, and he's only day-to-day. This is good news for the Pelicans after AD rolled his ankle as he stepped on Kosta Koufos' foot and he was unable to return on Wednesday. The Pelicans have a huge game coming up against the Jazz on Sunday, so the team may choose to be careful on Friday. If he's out, we'll see more Darius Miller, Emeka Okafor, Ian Clark and Cheick Diallo. Jrue Holiday and Nikola Mirotic will get more shots, too.

He's been out since he first game after the All-Star Game and he continues to get ruled out early. Bembry was hurt before his season even started this year and he's up to just 21 total games. Hopefully, things turn around for him next year.

He may have suffered the injury on a drive to the basket on Wednesday, but he got up and didn't look to be in too much pain. Augustin did not play for most of the final five minutes, but he was on the court for the last possession. If he's out, Shelvin Mack could be looking at big minutes while the Magic go with no-PG lineups again.

He's missed the last week for a patellar tendon injury. While Harkless was out, Shabazz Napier and Evan Turner have picked up a few extra minutes. Harkless was playing well before the injury with some good steals numbers, but most owners can take a wait-and-see approach.

He stubbed his toe on Tuesday and aggravated it on Wednesday. Fred VanVleet hit a game-winning 3-pointer last night and should get minutes in the 20s. Norman Powell should have another chance to build off his 17-point game, but he's a risky play.

He did not even travel for Wednesday's game and it doesn't sound like he's close to a return. Norman Powell had his best game in months on Wednesday, scoring 17 points with four rebounds and one block. Powell and Malcolm Miller will likely get minutes, especially with Delon Wright (toe) doubtful.

He should be ready to go for Sunday against the Raptors. Lee did not play on Tuesday against the Blazers, which led to Frank Ntilikina getting his first NBA start next to Emmanuel Mudiay. Those two and Trey Burke were a disaster in that loss on Tuesday, combined for 13 points on 5-of-28 from the field. It's probably best to avoid this situation in fantasy.

"If it happens, it happens," he said. We'll find out just how much the No. 1 seed means to the Warriors this week with a back-to-back set tonight and Friday. Tonight is a national game, so it makes more sense that they'd sit players against the Blazers tomorrow. Fantasy owners will want to check back tomorrow.

He did not play in the back-to-back set on Tuesday and Wednesday due to an illness. Johnson did play 13 minutes on Saturday, and he could see minutes in the 10-16 range again with Ryan Anderson (hip) not expected to play.

He suffered a wrist injury on Tuesday night when Dante Cunningham pushed Jordan Bell into Iguodala, and he'll be missing the first game of a back-to-back set. Iggy was giving high fives after the injury happened and he didn't look to be hurt right away, so this is likely just a day-to-day thing. With him out, that should mean more Nick Young, Shaun Livingston and possibly more lineups with true centers out there because we won't see the Hampton Five.

He's been out since Nov. 12 with his quad tendinitis and likely would have minutes limit upon his return. Finney-Smith would likely compete with Kyle Collinsworth and Doug McDermott for minutes, and he would likely need Wesley Matthews to miss more time to even flirt with 20 minutes.

Coach Nate McMillan didn't go into many details, but we know he practiced with the second unit and won't be back in the starting lineup until he gets his conditioning up. He was given a 2-3 week timetable on February 5, so he's obviously behind schedule and that's why Indiana is being extra cautious. If Collison returns, expect heavy restrictions for at least the first couple games. Cory Joseph and Lance Stephenson will lose some value once Collison is cleared.

The Mavericks are off until Saturday vs. Memphis, so Matthews has another full 48 hours to recover. There's a good chance he plays, but you never know with the Mavs tanking. If Matthews is a go, Yogi Ferrell and J.J. Barea will lose some fantasy appeal.

"I don't think it's anything serious, but we want Kyrie healthy and fresh," Ainge added. "And he carries a heavy burden, the offensive load that he carries. So we're OK with him missing some games. We feel like we have a deep roster and we need him to be healthy and fresh." Ainge also said he knew before the season that Irving wouldn't play all 82 games, something that would've been helpful for fantasy owners to know. Irving will play on Thursday vs. the Wolves and we'll let you know if he has any restrictions.

Ellington went through the morning shootaround and is on track to play as long as he doesn't suffer a setback in warmups. The Heat are healthy and have a crowded wing rotation, but Ellington's shooting could still earn him 20+ minutes off the bench if his thigh holds up.

"(Returning) this year would be of more value because any games he can get under his belt with Blake and Andre both together would be extremely helpful and help the evaluation process going forward," coach Van Gundy said. Jackson is way behind schedule and has been on the sidelines for 10 weeks. He's starting to do more at practice including 1-on-1 drills, but there's still no clear return date in sight.

Bordow says that Len's offensive limitations and tendency to get into foul trouble makes him a poor fit going forward. His durability can't help his case either. Len has done a fine job as the starting center with 10.0 points, 8.8 rebounds and 2.0 blocks per game, but he's played a combined 14 minutes in his last two outings with Tyson Chandler back.

This means Okafor will be on the books for $2.4 million next season if the Pelicans decide to keep him. Based on his play this season, that seems likely. He's averaging 5.0 points, 5.6 rebounds and 1.6 blocks in 15.7 minutes per game and may need to play more if Anthony Davis (ankle) gets bad news on his MRI.

"He's simplifying things out there," Carlisle added. "It's pretty clear he's getting some rhythm back and he's getting some familiarity with the guys he's playing with." Coach Carlisle has kept his word about giving Noel a chance and the big man is coming off a 14-board game with eight points, a steal and a block in 26 minutes. The Mavs are off until Saturday, so if you want to take a flier on him fantasy owners should probably wait another day or two.

"I feel really good. Still no setbacks, everything is going to plan - the time we set in the beginning," Lin said. "I really can't complain, it's been a lot smoother of a process than I anticipated." Lin has been getting some shots up for a while and is on track to be ready in time for the 2018-19 season. He has already opted in to his $12.5 million player option to remain in Brooklyn as well.

Coach Tom Thibodeau continues to get the band back together, as Rose joins former teammates Taj Gibson and Jimmy Butler. We'd expect Jeff Teague's job as the starter to be safe based on Rose's play in recent seasons, and there's no guarantee that he takes Tyus Jones' backup job either. Fantasy owners would be wise to leave Rose on the wire.

He will be the first player in Stony Brook history to make an NBA roster. Warney has thrived in the G-League with 20.3 points, 9.6 boards, 1.2 steals and 1.2 blocks, and he also earned MVP honors for Team USA after leading the team to the 2017 AmeriCup title.

"I thought those guys [the reserves] earned the right to play," Bickerstaff said. "You know, they cut the lead down. I didn't want to disrupt the rhythm of that group, so I just let them run." Gasol left the locker room before it was opened to the media and "wore headphones and walked by reporters while whistling as he made his way to the team bus." He's clearly frustrated with the tanking in Memphis and there's a good chance he sits either on Friday vs. the Jazz or Saturday vs. Dallas.

"Everybody tells me he is working out eight, nine hours a day, just religiously working out, doing everything they ask of him and more," Gorman said. "It seems to me if Gordon Hayward thought his next basketball game he was going to play in was going to be in next October, he might not be working out nine hours a day right now." This sounds like pure speculation and coach Brad Stevens has already shot down the idea of Hayward returning this season. We'll continue to list him as out for 2017-18.

It's hard to argue with that. Not only did James score seven of his 39 points in the final minute of Wednesday's win over the Nuggets, but he's averaging 30.0 points, 9.8 assists and 9.7 rebounds since the Cavaliers shook up their roster at the deadline. He's fourth in the league in points per game, second in the league in assists per game, 17th in rebounds and 21st in steals, and he's yet to miss a single game because he said he wants to lead by example. Life is good for LeBron and his fantasy owners.

The latest report on Wednesday night was that Davis' ankle started "swelling significantly" prior to their plane ride back to New Orleans. There have been no new updates on Thursday morning, but we'll pass along any additional details. If he does miss time, we can expect to see more of Nikola Mirotic, Emeka Okafor, Cheick Diallo and Darius Miller.

The Joker had been struggling and coach Mike Malone even benched him in the fourth quarter on Monday to send a message. "I told [Jokic] we need to get him back being a lot more aggressive and stop deferring to everybody," Malone said. "He's our best player and we need him to step up in these last 18 games." The recent return of Paul Millsap (wrist) has done Jokic no favors, but tonight's huge line cements our lack of concern. Jokic is a fantasy dynamo.

Jamal Murray reportedly took a hit to the head during Wednesday's game, which he finished with 11 points on 5-of-10 shooting, seven rebounds, three assists and three turnovers.

Murray sat out late in each of Denver's previous two games, but coach Mike Malone suggested that Murray was sidelined tonight after taking a knee from LeBron James. The good news is that he will not be in the concussion protocol. Murray is still producing late-round value in most formats, and we've seen him go through extended lulls before, so owners should keep the faith.

Will Barton was quiet on Wednesday with four points on 2-of-7 shooting, two rebounds, three assists and one steal in 29 minutes off the Nuggets' bench.

The seven shot attempts tied Barton's fewest since Jan. 27. Tonight's game was also the first time he'd gone without a 3-pointer in 10 games, and the rebounds were his fewest since Feb. 5, so there are plenty of reasons to write this off as a fluke. Keep him locked and loaded in your active lineups.

Chandler played the final eight minutes tonight, which is a great sign. Nuggets coach Mike Malone said after Monday's loss to the lowly Mavericks, "If you're not going to go out there and give it your all, you're not going to play ... What each player owes is to go out there and play as hard as you can." Chandler's shots weren't falling tonight, but as long as he's getting 32+ minutes and has the faith of his coach, he should be a reliable fantasy play.

Kyle Kuzma took advantage of another start on Wednesday with 20 points on 9-of-16 shooting, 10 rebounds, three steals and one block in a game-high 42 minutes.

Brandon Ingram (strained hamstring) is out until at least Mar. 12, which means he'll spend at least two more games on the sidelines -- and it's debatable whether L.A. would play him in back-to-back games on Mar. 13-14. That leaves Kuzma in a terrific position, at least short-term, and his patient owners can safely deploy him in active lineups.

Lonzo Ball (left knee) had 16 points, six rebounds, five assists, four 3-pointers, two steals and one 3-pointer during Wednesday's home win vs. the Magic.

Ball was limited during Tuesday's practice after bumping his previously-injured left knee on Monday, but it doesn't seem like a lasting concern. "I hit [my knee] one time coming off a screen," Ball said. "Just had to run it off and keep playing." He stuffed the stat sheet tonight and has been terrific in four March games, averaging 13.0 points, 3.8 triples, 5.3 rebounds, 6.3 assists, 2.3 steals and 0.8 blocks. He continues to be a drag in percentages, but you already knew that.

LeBron James powered the Cavs to an impressive road win on Wednesday with 39 points, 10 assists, eight rebounds, five 3-pointers and one steal.

The King went 4-of-8 from the line with three turnovers, but those were the only smirches on an otherwise phenomenal line -- he also shot 15-of-25 from the field. He averaged a triple-double for the month of February, of course, so this is nothing surprising.

Rodney Hood scored 15 points on 6-of-13 shooting with two rebounds and two steals in 31 minutes of action on Wednesday.

Hood has replaced Cedi Osman (three points in 12 minutes) as the starting SF, and it's a move that could stick -- the Cavs have won two straight games since coach Ty Lue made the switch. Even as a starter, Hood is just a low-end fantasy option as a source of scoring and 3-pointers with a trickle of supporting stats.

Tristan Thompson's sprained ankle will cost him roughly two weeks, according to coach Ty Lue, and Nance is off to a torrid start as the Cavs' fill-in center. It's only been two games, but he's averaging a stellar 17.5 points on 60.0% FGs and 83.3% FTs, 14.0 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 3.0 steals and 0.5 turnovers. If you didn't pick him up this weekend, it's already too late.

Ante Zizic picked up five points and two rebounds in nine minutes off Cleveland's bench on Wednesday.

Zizic has emerged in the rotation out of necessity with Tristan Thompson (ankle) and Kevin Love (hand) both injured. He still doesn't have fantasy relevance, though, and is a particularly poor option with Love aiming to return this month.

Jeff Green (back) returned to action on Wednesday with 10 points on 4-of-7 shooting in 17 minutes.

Green added one rebound, one block and one 3-pointer off the bench, but this about sums up his fantasy appeal. The Cavs' bench is devoid of reliable options unless you need specialists in 3-point shooting (Kyle Korver) or scoring (Jordan Clarkson) -- and even those guys are unpredictable night-to-night.

Jrue Holiday scored 23 points with three rebounds, eight assists, three steals, one block and two 3-pointers during a 114-101 win over the Kings on Wednesday.

He and Anthony Davis (ankle) have been tremendous together with Jrue assisting AD 10 times on Tuesday night. Davis did get hurt tonight and will get an MRI tomorrow, so Jrue could be busy. Holiday has played 160 minutes without AD and DeMarcus Cousins next to him, posting per-36 averages of 29.2 points, 3.8 boards, 8.1 assists, 1.3 steals, 1.1 blocks and 3.1 treys. The Pelicans also tied their franchise record for consecutive wins at 10.

Brook Lopez drained 12-of-18 shots en route to 27 points on Wednesday, going 2-of-2 from the line with three assists, one steal and two turnovers in 35 minutes.

BroLo has turned into the bizarro version of a fantasy center, offering more 3-pointers tonight (one) than combined rebounds and blocks (zero). His playing time tonight matched his season-high set in early February, and he hasn't been subjected to DNP-CDs, so fantasy owners can be cautiously optimistic with 18 games left on the schedule.

The Lakers were on a five-game winning streak before losing to Portland, and coach Luke Walton was committed to maintaining that success. "We have to regroup, refocus and not let this turn into a losing streak," Walton said after the loss. That bodes well for the veteran Thomas, whose role was already solidified with Josh Hart (wrist) out indefinitely. IT didn't get to the FT line tonight, which is a minor disappointment -- he's a combined 32-of-34 since the All-Star break (94.1%), which has buoyed his roto value.

Julius Randle posted 12 points, 11 rebounds and three assists in 30 minutes on Wednesday, as the Lakers defeated the visiting Magic 108-107.

Randle has made at least half of his shots in 12 consecutive games. That efficiency has powered him to top-40 value in recent weeks, and he shows no signs of slowing down -- if anything, his usage should increase until Brandon Ingram (hamstring) returns.

Jonathan Isaac is nipping at his heels and the Magic are especially enamored with the rookie's defense. That's not a great sign for Simmons, who is the fourth-oldest player on a young team building for the future, though he may have gotten a reprieve tonight with Evan Fournier (knee) exiting early. Either way, Simmons remains a low-upside asset.

Aaron Gordon scored 28 points with 14 rebounds, two assists, four 3-pointers and one block in 36 minutes on Wednesday.

Gordon went 2-of-7 from the free-throw line, to the detriment of category-based owners, but he also made 11-of-20 field goals. It's a step in the right direction after Monday's 4-of-18 dud vs. the Jazz, but he's yet to resume the every-night dominance owners enjoyed in October and November. He's at least trending in the right direction, and his usage rate would only increase if Evan Fournier (knee) is forced to miss time.

The Magic lost a tough game in L.A. on Wednesday, despite Nikola Vucevic putting up 24 points, 12 rebounds, six assists, two blocks and one 3-pointer.

Vuc made 11-of-18 field goals tonight and this was his highest-scoring game since Dec. 17, just before the hand fracture that sidelined him for roughly six weeks. The 27-year-old center only needs 30+ minutes for early-round value, and his role is solidified with Orlando having no incentive to give minutes to Bismack Biyombo or Marreese Speights.

Biyombo tweaked his right leg in the second quarter, but it didn't seem serious and he was no worse for the wear after halftime. That's good news for his owners in very deep leagues, but everyone else can continue to ignore him while Nikola Vucevic is healthy.

Isaac started ahead of Jonathon Simmons for the second half on Monday, but coach Frank Vogel kept him in his usual reserve role tonight. That could change soon, however, since Evan Fournier (knee) got hurt tonight and Vogel indicated that Isaac's minute-limit might be lifted. Don't be surprised if Isaac finds himself starting in the near future, as the Magic shift entirely toward player development, at which point his defensive upside alone would be worth the price of admission.

Jrue Holiday scored 23 points with three rebounds, eight assists, three steals, one block and two 3-pointers during a 114-101 win over the Kings on Wednesday.

He and Anthony Davis (ankle) have been tremendous together with Jrue assisting AD 10 times on Tuesday night. Davis did get hurt tonight and will get an MRI tomorrow, so Jrue could be busy. Holiday has played 160 minutes without AD and DeMarcus Cousins next to him, posting per-36 averages of 29.2 points, 3.8 boards, 8.1 assists, 1.3 steals, 1.1 blocks and 3.1 treys. The Pelicans also tied their franchise record for consecutive wins at 10.

Nikola Mirotic scored 26 points with 10 rebounds and four 3-pointers in 31 minutes against the Kings on Wednesday.

He's streaking again with this 10-game streak after he was part of a seven-game streak to start his season with the Bulls. Mirotic continues to hoist treys with 7.7 per game with the Pelicans, averaging 14.8 points, 7.8 boards, 1.3 blocks and 2.4 treys in his previous games with New Orleans. He may have to shoot the ball more if Anthony Davis (ankle) is out, too.

Darius Miller scored nine points with one rebound, three assists, one block and one 3-pointer in 29 minutes against the Kings on Wednesday.

If Anthony Davis (ankle) is going to miss time, Miller could be looking at a few extra minutes. On the other hand, he's left a lot to be desired on the stat sheet over his last five, averaging 4.8 points, 2.0 boards, 2.2 assists and 1.2 treys. He's only a speculative add in very deep leagues for now.

Emeka Okafor scored eight points with six rebounds and one assist in 17 minutes against the Kings on Wednesday.

The Pelicans have gone 10-2 since they signed Okafor, so serious credit to their front office for this pickup. Okafor could be looking at a few extra minutes if Anthony Davis (ankle) needs to miss time, but chances are he likely wouldn't see more than 24 or so. He's only a specialist for blocks in deep leagues.

Skal Labissiere scored 14 points with four rebounds, three assists and one block in 28 minutes during a 114-101 loss to the Pelicans on Wednesday.

Make it four good games in a row for Skal, averaging 12.8 points, 6.5 boards, 2.8 assists, 2.0 blocks and 0.5 treys on 47.8 percent from the field and 81.8 percent from the line over 30.1 minutes per game. Before this stretch, he struggled to even put two good games together, so his consistency speaks volumes. He's been hanging around mid-round value in standard leagues, so he should be owned in 12-team formats.

Bogdan Bogdanovic failed to score against the Pelicans on Wednesday, adding four rebounds, three assists, one steal and one block in 26 minutes.

Bad games are nothing new for Bogdan and he's coming off a 22-point gem against the Knicks. Just throw this one out and expect him to be productive against the Magic on Friday. He would also benefit if De'Aaron Fox can't play.

Zach Randolph scored 19 points with five rebounds, two assists and one 3-pointer in a start against the Pelicans on Wednesday.

He'll get minutes when he's active, but the question will be whether he's rested or not. Randolph didn't play in two of the previous three, which is even worse considering Willie Cauley-Stein is hurt. Z-Bo is tough to trust in most fantasy leagues.

If you missed it, he rolled his left ankle in the third quarter and did not return. Davis did not appear to be on the bench after he limped to the locker room either. He did try to stay in the game at first, but the sprain was clearly bothering him and he went straight to the locker room as he left the court. He'll get Thursday off before Bradley Beal comes to town for Friday. Meanwhile, there isn't a great speculative pickup until we get word on his MRI.

Garrett Temple scored two points with one rebound in 20 minutes against the Pelicans on Wednesday.

He did start the second half for De'Aaron Fox (back) tonight. However, it's still really tough to add him in fantasy because he could be getting rested at some point. Plus, the Kings having a late start makes it tough to use him in DFS, too.

Buddy Hield scored 20 points with five rebounds, one assist, one steal and four 3-pointers in 31 minutes against the Pelicans on Wednesday.

Revenge game? Besides that, he could be looking at additional ball-handling responsibility with De'Aaron Fox (back) getting hurt today. Hield's assists have been down on the year at 1.6 per game, but just about all of his stats are up since the break. He's been hanging around top-100 value in nine-category leagues recently, so he's already been worth owning in most leagues.

Frank Mason matched his career-high 16 points with one rebound, six assists, one block, one steal and one 3-pointer in 28 minutes against the Pelicans on Wednesday.

De'Aaron Fox strained his back in the first quarter today, which explains the increase to Mason's playing time. The game before Mason got hurt in January, he played 34 minutes in a start, so maybe he's headed for big minutes until Fox is back. Mason is a speculative add in 14-team leagues until we get word on Fox's status.

Fournier and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope were wrangling for position in the post when the injury occurred, and we're listing him as day-to-day until Orlando updates his status. Orlando was already eager to get Jonathan Isaac more involved in the rotation, and Mario Hezonja should also get a boost if Fournier misses time with the injury. Details are scarce at the moment and owners should hold tight until we know more.

The Pistons came in 2-8 in their previous 10 games and they've struggled to get consistent production on the wings, which prompted coach Stan Van Gundy to turn to his prized rookie. "I'm not worried about [Kennard's] numbers," Van Gundy said. "He's probably our most skilled wing player. We need him to be aggressive." Stanley Johnson (back) was out tonight, which opened up the wing rotation, and Kennard is only worth watching if he begins averaging 25+ minutes on a regular basis.

Reggie Bullock scored 21 points in a losing effort on Wednesday, making 7-of-13 FGs and 4-of-4 FTs with three 3-pointers, four assists, three rebounds and one turnover in 39 minutes.

Bullock barely caught the rim on a wide-open 3-pointer at the end of overtime, but fantasy owners aren't complaining. He's averaging 15.1 points per game since the All-Star break, which is worth admiring -- only 67 players in the league are averaging 15+ points this season. He's a viable fantasy play as long as he's getting substantial minutes and offensive volume.

Blake Griffin had 31 points, four assists, three rebounds, two assists, one block and three 3-pointers during Wednesday's 121-119 home loss.

Griffin sank a 3-pointer to tie the game with 37.2 seconds left in overtime, finishing 12-of-21 from the field and 4-of-8 from the line. Since Blake joined the Pistons, they had been 6-0 vs. opponents on the second night of a back-to-back set -- tonight's loss snapped that streak, but it did come against the Eastern Conference-leading Raptors. Roto owners haven't been thrilled with Griffin's percentages, turnovers and lack of defensive stats in Detroit, but he's getting it done in most points leagues.

James Ennis came off the bench on Wednesday for 14 points, five rebounds, four assists and one block in 36 minutes.

Ennis was bumped from the starting lineup by Luke Kennard, who logged 31 minutes tonight. Ennis came in averaging a modest 9.0 points, 1.1 triples, 2.9 rebounds, 0.7 steals, 0.6 steals and 0.4 blocks with the Pistons, which relegates him to the wire in nearly any format.

Andre Drummond grabbed a game-high 21 rebounds (seven offensive) on Wednesday, with 10 points, two assists and two blocks in 37 minutes.

After tonight's tough home loss in overtime, Detroit has won just two of their past dozen games. They're still No. 9 in the East, but sit 5.0 games behind the Heat with 17 games left in their regular season. It's not a good situation in reality, but should give Detroit just enough incentive to prevent any precautionary DNPs for their key veterans.

Lowry came into this game averaging 5.4 fewer minutes compared to last season, with corresponding dips in scoring (-6.1 points per game), 3-pointers (-0.3), assists (-0.5) and steals (-0.3). The biggest issue is that he's shooting 41.9% from the field, compared to 46.4% last season, but his unique fantasy value is still evident -- tonight's line was the first time all season that a player has notched at least 15 assists, seven rebounds and four steals in a game. Throw in a mere three DNPs this season, and his owners should be satisfied.

Jonas Valanciunas racked up 14 points, 11 rebounds, three assists, three blocks and two steals in 31 minutes of action on Wednesday.

JV hit 6-of-13 shots with one 3-pointer in one of his most well-rounded lines of the season. There were plenty of extenuating circumstances -- the matchup worked in his favor (vs. a true center in Andre Drummond), the Raptors lost Serge Ibaka to an ejection in the first half, and this game went to overtime. Nevertheless, he's an automatic start with Toronto in the midst of a favorable stretch of busy four-game weeks.

Pascal Siakam started the second half on Wednesday for Serge Ibaka (ejection), posting eight points (3-of-5 FGs, 1-of-1 FTs), six rebounds, four assists, one steal, one block and one 3-pointer in 28 minutes.

Siakam's fantasy value hinges on his ability to chip in defensive stats and we're not reading into tonight's line -- Ibaka will play his usual role on Friday, which limits Siakam to deep-league ownership. As a footnote, he did make his first 3-pointer in three weeks tonight, snapping an 0-of-7 slump from long distance.

Jakob Poeltl didn't have any defensive stats on Wednesday, finishing an OT win in Detroit with four points, two rebounds and one assist in 18 minutes.

Poeltl had blocked at least one shot in 13 consecutive games, and he came in averaging 2.7 swats since the All-Star break. Owners relying on him for specialist appeal should stay the course, with the understanding that low playing time makes him susceptible to occasional duds.

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